Imagining the Life You Want in Retirement

My husband, Tony, turned 65 in September. Retirement is on the horizon. Although he hasn’t set an exact date, it will be sooner, rather than later. So, in the last year or so, we’ve been imagining what we want our lives to look like after he retires. What about you? Are you imagining the life you want in retirement?

Our kids and grandkids live close to us. So we look forward to lots of sleepovers, trips to the park and attending all of their school events.

We have an annual beach trip that we take with the kids and grandkids every year. These are special times where we make wonderful memories.

And then there are the dream trips with just the two of us, like the Alaskan cruise we took a few years ago.

But it won’t be ALL travel. I love blogging and will continue to grow this platform that allows me to connect with others and feed my soul. My dream is to meet many of my readers and the online friends I have made.

Tony will likely find some other type of part-time or volunteer work using his gifts and passions. Teaching, fixing things, making homemade pizza and playing his clarinet and saxophone.

Really, we want our lives to look pretty much like they do now except with more time with family and to pursue other interests.

We’ve saved for retirement for all of the years we have worked and have spent the last few months figuring out how to alot those savings to support the lifestyle we envision.

Costs for healthcare will be a major consideration. Medicare is in our future. But what will it cover? Will we have the same coverage as we’ve had through Tony’s employer? Will we be able to use our same doctors?

Tony and I wear glasses. Tony has prescription glasses for reading and for distance. I have a prescription for distance and also wear contacts. All of these have been covered by vision insurance through his employer. I don’t have to tell you that as you age and your vision changes, the amount you spend on new glasses and contacts goes up!

So one question we’ve asked is “Will Medicare cover our routine eye exams for eyeglasses and contacts?” The answer is no.

But there is an option – VSP Individual Vision Plans. VSP is the national leader in eye care benefits and offers affordable individual vision insurance to people who don’t have employer-provided vision care.

VSP Individual Vision Plans cost as low as $17 a month and provide an average savings of more than$200 per year. And when we DO start living on a fixed income, saving where we can on healthcare in order to fund all the FUN we want to have is a big plus!

Oh I’m looking forward to that time in our lives. Right now it seems like we’re so tied down although, I love most of it. We traveled a lot when our kids were little during school breaks and we miss that.

Great post Cathy and I’m so pleased to read you are actually thinking and planning how you want your retirement to be. So many, including me, retire and then think ‘What now?’. Sounds like you have it all figured out with a great balance. Thanks for sharing with us at #overthemoon.

We’ve just started thinking about what retirement will look like for us. I had thought we’d have to downsize and really live frugally, but I’m realizing that all the scrimping and saving has paid off and we might actually have quite a pleasant life when the time comes 🙂

My husband and I are also starting to envision the life we want in retirement. It sounds much like yours, to be honest. Maybe our paths will cross and we can meet each other in person. I’ll throw in a plug for VSP as well. I am in the health insurance business and we offer VSP plans to our groups and individual members, because of the value and the large provider network.

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1 day ago

About Me

Cathy Lawdanski

My name is Cathy. I am a 50-something wife, mother and grandmother who is embracing new challenges and adventures that come from being on "this side" of 50. Join me on the journey!

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